A-League

Perth Glory forced out of HBF Park for majority of 2022-23 season

Austadiums • Saturday 24th September 2022
Macedonia Park in Stirling will host Perth Glory games

A-League club Perth Glory will play 10 of its 13 home games at a temporarily expanded Macedonia Park in Stirling due to the unavailability of HBF Park.

Delays have hit the $35 million upgrade of Western Australia’s premier rectangular stadium to host matches during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, meaning the Glory will now play just three home games at HBF Park this season.

The Glory had previously announced it would play four home games at HBF Arena Joondalup, returning to their usual home ground on January 6. However, further delays to redevelopment works at HBF Park and negative feedback from fans regarding the suitability of HBF Arena (oval venue, located 30km from Perth’s CBD) forced a change of plans.

Significant temporary infrastructure will be installed at the Stirling venue to boost capacity and bring it up to A-League standard. It’s believed temporary grandstands will boost the rectangular venue’s capacity to around 10,000, while temporary lighting will allow for night matches and a renovation of the pitch has already commenced.

The Western Australian Government is providing financial support to allow the improvements to be made.

To allow sufficient time for the build to be completed, Perth Glory’s first two home games have been switched to fixtures later in the season, meaning the club’s first game at its temporary home will be under lights on December 10 against Western United.

Perth Glory’s A-League Women’s team will also play their home games at Macedonia Park.

“We have been confronted by a unique set of challenges caused by circumstances completely beyond our control,” said Glory CEO Anthony Radich.

“Being informed so late in the piece of the unavailability of HBF Park for an additional six home games beyond the original four has severely delayed and thrown our season-planning into disarray.

“Our Members and fans were our primary consideration throughout the decision-making process and there is no perfect outcome.

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our Members, partners and fans are able to attend games at a venue which is of a rectangular orientation and fit for football.

“As well as needing a rectangular venue, we wanted to avoid having to play “home” fixtures on the east coast given that our Members, partners and fans have been deprived of normality in terms of home games for the past two years.

“Obviously there are major financial implications for our club and we are discussing with the State Government potential compensation for loss of access to HBF Park.

“We’re pleased to say the State Government is looking to provide significant financial support, match day/event and temporary infrastructure support to enable us to host home matches at Macedonia Park.”

A-Leagues Commissioner Greg O’Rourke, meanwhile, was quick to emphasise the importance of Glory not being forced to relocate home games yet again.

“The impact of this construction delay is considerable on Perth Glory, its Members, sponsors and corporate partners,” he said.

“It was vital to ensure they were able play in their home city.”

The news was also warmly welcomed by Stirling Macedonia Football Club President, Luke Pavlos.

“Macedonia Park was used by the Perth Kangaroos who were the forerunners to Perth Glory in the early 1990s,” he said, “and the club was, of course, created by two Stirling residents in Nick Tana and Paul Afkos.

“So the fact that they will be playing at Macedonia Park in the City of Stirling creates a real sense of nostalgia.

“We are looking forward to working with Perth Glory, VenuesWest and the City of Stirling to deliver an experience that will be second to none and bring back some of those early-days memories when other teams feared the trip to Perth due to the atmosphere created by the home fans.”

City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin is similarly enthused at the prospect of Glory A-League Men’s fixtures being played at Macedonia Park.

“Hosting these games will make a significant economic impact in the City of Stirling,” he said.

“It will create a lasting legacy and an incredible opportunity for local residents to have this quality of sport in their neighbourhood.

“The City is eager to work with the organisers, clubs and broader community to ensure these games are a great success.”

The first home game back at a redeveloped HBF Park for the Perth Glory will be on March 10 against the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Meanwhile, the just-released 2023 Super Rugby fixture has Western Force slated to play their season-opener at HBF Park on February 25.

Improvements to HBF Park include upgrading the pitch through removal, levelling and turf replacement, upgrading the player amenities, a new players race and replacing the existing halogen field lighting with LED lighting.

The new A-League Men’s season commences on October 7. View the full 2022-23 season fixture.

HBF ParkMacedonia ParkA-League

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A-League club Perth Glory will play 10 of its 13 home games at a temporarily expanded Macedonia Park in Stirling due to the unavailability of HBF Park.
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